Start the summer stock up to save

<p>May races through our home faster than an Indy car. Each day flies by in a constant blitz of projects, finals, awards programs, permission slips and teacher gifts. I feel like I’m holding down another full-time job balancing the details and the calendar.</p><p>But in just over a week, we’ll greet summer with full abandon. While our summer is shaping up to be far from lazy, there’s much to look forward to — camp, family trips, birthdays, summer, reading, and more. Our schedule shifts to a more flexible weekly experience. But the days will still be full and brimming with goodness.</p><p>Knowing I’ll be keeping up with a different rhythm and responsibilities sent me into go-mode this week. I began scouring the cabinets and then stocking up on the items I knew would be in high demand during the months of June and July. Some of the traditional summer items of course made the list — sunscreen, bug spray and bubbles, because you’re never too old to play with bubbles. But the majority of the items on my hit list probably seem a little unconventional to most. Here’s what you’re going to need (and will probably forget about).</p><p>Laundry detergent</p><p>Around here summer seems to equate to more laundry. While t-shirts and shorts make for smaller loads than jeans and hooded sweatshirts, we seem to run through clothes more quickly. If playing outside or hitting the pool leaves your crew in the same state, you’ll probably want to pick up extra laundry detergent, too.</p><p>I use two primary types of laundry detergent — a homemade variety composed of 1 cup of Borax, 1 cup of washing soda and ½ cup of an oxycleaner. You only need 1 tablespoon per load of this fragrance-free all-purpose cleaner. For super smelly summer clothes, I recommend powerhouse detergent Defunkify. You can purchase it online — Amazon has the best price — or in select stores. A little of this detergent goes a long way but it can handle your mustiest of towels or stinkiest of gym clothes. Go to Defunkify.com for more information.</p><p>Shower cleaning supplies</p><p>Along similar lines, our bathroom gets more use during the summer months. The heat and humidity in Indiana mean we all need a little extra TLC to remain fresh and clean. As a result, our shower can end up covered in soap scum and mildew.</p><p>Whatever your preferred method of shower cleaning, it’s a good idea to buy an extra bottle or two to get you through the sweaty summer. My favorite pick for purchasing household cleaners is the home improvement retailer Menards. Pair decent prices with the 11 percent rebate offered on a rotating prices, and you’ll score low prices on the products that work best for you.</p><p>Snacks</p><p>Every parent hears this least true statement each summer: “There’s nothing to eat!” While you may not be able to avoid this complaint entirely, you can stock up on convenient snacks now to hedge it off some.</p><p>Now’s the time to purchase family favorites to keep the munchies at bay. Consider buying foods with long shelf life and high convenience. Granola bars, cereal and popsicles please parents and kids alike here. Think about potential snacks that require little prep, have at least a modicum of nutritional value, and can be kept in the fridge or pantry for weeks at a time — if they’re not devoured sooner.</p><p>Personal care items</p><p>You probably want to check to see how your household supply of shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste and the like are holding up as you head into summer. Odds are good that extras will be required for camp this summer. If you haven’t already, invest in small reusable bottles for those experiences or weekend trips. That way, you can use the products you already have instead of purchasing overpriced travel sized versions.</p><p>Before you run out to clear the aisles, be sure you take an inventory of what you actually need, though. You may have extra bars of soap hiding in cabinets or bottles of hair care products underneath the sink.</p><p>Stockpiling items you know you’ll need saves you money in more ways than one. You can take advantage of bulk purchase prices which typically lower your expense per ounce or unit. You’ll also avoid last-minute hurried trips where you’ll be tempted to make impulse purchases. With healthy snacks on hand, you’ll keep the troops well-fed with fewer trips through the drive through, too.</p><p>Regularly thinking through the items you always run out of can prevent panic and overspending. Line the shelves and bring on the fun. Here comes summer!</p>